As part of the Drum Corps International annual winter business meetings conducted January 4-6 in Indianapolis, representatives of DCI’s voting membership held an election for open positions on its board of directors.
Charged with the responsibility of overseeing the business and strategic initiatives of the corporation, the board is comprised of elected representatives from DCI’s voting member organizations as well as three “at-large” directors; recruited, vetted and ratified for their unique business insights, qualifications and perspectives.
The newest addition to the nine-person board is Santa Clara Vanguard executive director Charles Frost who will serve a three-year term. Frost replaces Phantom Regiment executive director Rick Valenzuela whose term has expired. Wyoming attorney John Masterson and Philadelphia-area executive Jim Doyle were re-elected to three-year positions.
Valenzuela was lauded for his contribution to the board in various roles spanning the past decade.
“Rick’s leadership and commitment to the board and the members of the Drum Corps International collective has been tireless and remarkable,” said Chris Komnick, vice-chairman of the DCI Board of Directors. “In his role on the board, Rick has contributed significantly to the ongoing success of the collective and we are extremely grateful for his selfless contribution as a highly-regarded board member.”
Although Valenzuela will be stepping down from his board seat, he will be assuming new duties in service to the voting members as DCI’s second “Chairman of the Membership.” Following a year-long transition which will shadow current chair Brad Furlano of the Blue Stars over the coming 12 months, chairman-elect Valenzuela will begin serving a two-year term commencing with the January, 2019 DCI Annual Meeting.
In this role, Valenzuela will serve as an ombudsman, facilitating engagement from member organizations on a variety of operational and governance issues and efficient communications between the DCI board of directors and the member organizations.
The new board will hold its first meeting on Sunday, January 7 in Indianapolis.
Elected to three-year terms
Charles Frost, Voting Membership Representative – Executive Director, Santa Clara Vanguard
An Austin, Texas native and a Vanguard alum, Charles Frost attended Texas State University pursuing a degree in trumpet performance. After college he worked as a professional musician in Phoenix where he also worked with the Arizona State University Marching Band for four seasons. When not performing or teaching music, Frost pursued a career in the print and graphic design industry. After more than 12 years in the industry he stepped away as a production manager to join Santa Clara Vanguard full time. Named executive director of the Vanguard organization in 2016, Frost has spearheaded the start of the Vanguard Performing Arts program that in addition to the organization’s World and Open Class drum corps, includes private lessons, a big band, a youth brass ensemble and a brass quintet.
John Masterson, Voting Membership Representative – Board of Directors, Troopers
John Masterson graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1983, and from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1986. During more than 30 years as an attorney, he has been a public defender, a state prosecutor, an Assistant United States Attorney, counsel to one Wyoming governor, and an advisor and legislative liaison to the current governor. He is now a partner in a western regional law firm, with a practice focusing on litigation, contract and transactional matters, corporate and non-profit work, and governmental relations. Masterson is heavily involved in the administration and management of non-profits through active service on boards, and by providing them with training and pro-bono legal services. He currently sits on the boards of, among others, the Natrona County Public Library Foundation, the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Tate Foundation and the Wyoming Medical Center. He is also the Chairman of the Wyoming Board of Law Examiners and the Vice President of the Wyoming State Bar. Masterson's drum corps experience comes from the Troopers, and consists of three years as a marching member, three years as drum major, and three years as a marching instructor. On the retirement of Jim Jones in 1987, he became director of the Troopers for the next four years. Masterson has several years of service on the DCI Board of Directors.
Jim Doyle, At-Large Representative – Vice President, HP Enterprise Services
Currently a vice president at DXC Technology, a global IT services and solutions leader, James M. Doyle previously served as Vice President of HP's Enterprise Services. Prior to joining HP, Doyle was Global Vice President of sales for Unisys Global Managed Services business and was the Vice President of Sales for Xerox/ACS Information Technology Business. Prior to joining Xerox/ACS, Doyle was the Vice President of CSC's Americas outsourcing mid-size business group. Previous assignments at CSC include vice president in America's business development, vice president of the Healthcare Group's global life sciences division, and managing director of the national life sciences practice with CSC Consulting. In addition to his strong development background, he also held positions with CSC in the areas of operational management, client management and technology consulting services. Doyle started his career with Peat, Marwick and Mitchell as a senior consultant before joining the General Electric Company (GE). At GE, he was responsible for technology assessment and integration in support of the corporation's M&A activities and held management positions in GE's Information Services business unit. Doyle's education includes Business Administration from Widener University, Strategic Planning and Scenario Planning, Cornell University and GE Leadership Development Program. He is an alum of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, where he marched in the contrabass line from 1975-1977. Doyle was instrumental in assisting the Crossmen during the corps' relocation from the Delaware Valley to San Antonio, Texas.
Currently serving two-year terms
Jim Tabuchi, Voting Membership Representative – Executive Director, Sacramento Mandarins
Jim Tabuchi is a semi-retired executive from Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies. Throughout his career he has held numerous positions in the areas of technical marketing, sales, consulting services, customer support, corporate development, strategic planning and international business. While at Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies, Tabuchi was the Worldwide Marketing and Services Senior Manager for the EEsof Division of electronic design solutions. Prior to that, he was based in Hong Kong as the Asia-Pacific Region Manager, responsible for developing HP’s business in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Malaysia and Australia and other Asian countries. Tabuchi is a native Northern Californian, who received his Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California (CAL) at Berkeley. He went on to receive his MBA in International Marketing at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. He has also done post-graduate studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and at the International Institute for Studies and Training (IIST) in Japan. He is proud to be a Senior Fellow and Board Member of the American Leadership Forum.
Chris Komnick, Voting Membership Representative – Executive Director, Madison Scouts
Chris Komnick is an innovative business strategist with more than 20 years of experience and a track record of success with technology and marketing companies. His skill at identifying and building market value for products and services led to many senior level assignments directing activities including executive strategy, business development, product management, operations, and software engineering. Komnick has a Bachelor of Science, Technology from Purdue University, a Masters of Business Administration, Marketing from Miami University, and a Post Graduate Studies – University of Chicago – Certification in E-Business Strategy. He held senior management roles in the strategic positioning, divestiture, definition and implementation of operational strategies for several highly successful businesses and business units. Additionally, Komnick has been an analyst on technology acquisition opportunities in order to simultaneously expand a product portfolio and increase top-line revenues. Komnick joined the Madison Scouts Board of Directors in 2007 and assumed the position of Executive Director of the organization in the fall of 2008. He has served on the DCI Board of Directors since 2012 and also served on the Finance and Business Development committees.
Fran Kick, At-Large Representative – Professional Speaker, Author, Consultant; KICK IT IN
Over the past two decades, Fran Kick has served as an educational consultant and leadership coordinator for the Bands of America/Music for All Summer Symposium. Having been involved as an instructor with the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps in the mid-1980s and a band director through the late 1980s to the early 1990s, Kick continues to advocate and evangelize for the power of participating in music across the country. He has spearheaded the "Kick Start Your Season With DCI" leadership workshops for students as part of the Drum Corps International Tour since 2012. Since taking an educational leave of absence from teaching in 1991, Kick developed his part-time speaking adventure into a full-time mission. He is an author, professional speaker and leadership consultant, inspiring people with presentations, programs and publishing for students, adults and associations.
Currently serving one-year terms
Kathy Black, At-Large Representative – Licensed Attorney
Kathy Black enjoyed a long career in the high-tech industry in both technical and management positions before going to law school and becoming an attorney. She has been practicing law for the federal government since 2009. Black currently works as an attorney for Southwestern Power Administration’s Office of General Counsel. Southwestern is a Power Marketing Administration within the U.S. Department of Energy, responsible for marketing hydroelectric power generated by 24 federal dams across six states. Since 2011 she has served on the board of directors of Music for All. A native of Indianapolis, Black is an accomplished jazz, rock, and blues drummer and an alum of the Guardsmen Drum and Bugle Corps.
David Glasgow, Voting Membership Representative – Executive Director, Bluecoats
David Glasgow has served as Executive Director of the Bluecoats since 2004. Prior to taking on this role, he served as the corps’ assistant director in 2003 and tour coordinator in 2002. Glasgow is an alum of the Bluecoats having marched with the corps for four years including his final two as the corps’ drum major. Glasgow holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in human resources and psychology from Michigan State University. Glasgow was the recipient of the Dr. Bernard Baggs Leadership award recognizing DCI’s World Class director of the year in 2006 and 2014.
Fred Morrison, Voting Membership Representative – Executive Director, Crossmen
Fred Morrison brings to the DCI board more than 30 years of experience as owner of a for-profit manufacturing and marketing company—the last 20 as CEO, President and Chairman. Morrison has a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from West Chester University. Additionally, he is active in the San Antonio community where he serves on several committees, organizations and foundations. Morrison started his drum corps experience as a volunteer for Carolina Crown and was instrumental in assisting the Crossmen with their relocation to San Antonio. He has been the Crossmen executive director since 2007 and corps director since 2010, and has been a member of the DCI Board of Directors since 2010. Morrison has served as Chairman of the DCI Finance and Combined Purchasing committees, and also serves on the Governance and Business Development committees.